CENTIPEDE. 
533 
legs and serrated forceps, give it a very formidable 
appearance. It is of a yellowish brown colour, and 
divided into twenty joints, from each of which pro- 
ceed two legs. A strong curved fang is seen on 
each side the head, and at the base of each fang 
is a quantity of poisonous fluid, which the animal 
ejects through an oblong slit near the apex. 
These formidable insects are found in many 
parts of the East and West Indies ; they are like- 
wise frequent in Africa, where they chiefly inhabit 
the woods. The centipedes would not be dreaded 
if they confined themselves to their native forests, 
where the traveller would be prepared to meet 
them ; but this is so far from being the case, that 
they frequently enter the houses of the inhabitants, 
and sting them while they sleep. Such indeed is 
the fear of the people in those particular districts 
where the centipedes are common, that they place 
the feet of their beds in vessels of water, to prevent 
their being attacked by these venemous insects du- 
ring the night. 
The sting of the centipede is excessively painful, 
and attended with a considerable degree of inflam- 
mation ; the timely application of sweet oil seems 
to be as good a remedy as any which has hitherto 
been made use of to abate the symptoms and relieve 
the patient. The bite of this creature is instant 
death to smaller insects, but does not prove fatal to 
large animals. 
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